got my 1st xmas dinner to make...

we're having christmas dinner at our house this year, as we now have a house with enough room for everyone!! Happy Trouble is i've never had to cook for 6 (+ my 2 year old)before!!
slightly worried as my MIL was talking about home made gravy and stuff (i dont even like gravy so wouldn't be able to test it!)
I'm not the best at managing to time everything to be ready together at the best of times!! :/

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8 replies since 1st December 2010 • Last reply 1st December 2010

Reply #1:

List,List,List and delegate.
It will be stressful so think about ways that will make it easier for you.
If you can get a hold of a copy of Delia's Christmas book it has a great 36 hrs countdown which I've used for the last 20 yrs.
You get these lists in holiday mags as well.
Do what you can ahead of time.
If someone says can I help have a list of things they can do.
Be flexible about the timing and expect to have the time vary.
We lost the sprouts one year and found them in March so be prepared to create family stories and above all enjoy your daughter's 3rd Christmas

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Reply #2:

I like Nigella's christmas book, it tells you how you can make the recipes in advance with make ahead and freeze ahead tips. Don't let the MIL pressurise you, if you don't want the faff of homemade gravy then don't, it's your house and you must do things your way. Otherwise you're making a rod for your own back and will be matyred every Christmas and end up dreading it (or a gin soaked mess crying into the Brussels;])
Just find your own way and relax into it.

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Reply #3:

i've just started trying to find recipes so i can have an estimate of what takes how long and work backwards so i know what to put in when. forgot to mention 1 is a veggie! so separate roasties (using goose fat) aswell as a veggie option!

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Reply #4:

Speaking from the vegetarian point of view it's awesome when someone just gets me a frozen faux meat to warm. Usually the rest of the meal is ok for me to eat. Quorn has a great "turkey" loaf very easy and one less thing to worry about. Hope the veggie isn't picky.

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Reply #5:

I'm with Laurel. Make the gravy from a mix. No one will know the difference. If someone says something, just be honest. Say "I don't eat gravy, so I'd have no way of making sure it tasted good."

You can't be faulted for that. Otherwise, stick to simple things with regular directions. Don't try to be too fancy. ;)

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Reply #6:

Working backwards is a good strategy for timingHappy Iceland have a quorn family roast that looks very festive. It says family, but seriously would only feed two average people, having something veggie to carve looks like you made serious effort to include the non meat-eater. I went to look at your profile to see if you were in the UK (before going on about Iceland lol) and see your in N Wales too, I'm near CaernarfonHappy

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Reply #7:

Or just tell your MIL that she can bring the gravy :p If she's so fussy tell her that can be her contribution to the day! Haha.

But as for the rest of it, yeah if you don't want to cook it all on the day freezing it all is the way forward! And lists! Happy

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Reply #8:

i know-i've got lists coming out of my ears!!haha.
cheers for the advice everyone, i'll look in iceland for the veggie option Happy (dont fancy trying to make anything!)
Laurel- Caernarfon is prob about an hour tops away from me, been there a few times to the castle Happy
i might actually delegate the gravy and sauces to people who wanna help a bit ;)

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